Notable events involving Upstart include:

The history of HMS Upstart as compiled on this page is extracted the from patrol reports and logbooks of this submarine. Corrections and details regarding information from the enemy's side (for instance the composition of convoys attacked) is kindly provided by Mr. Platon Alexiades, a naval researcher from Canada.

18 Apr 1943HMS Unsparing (Lt. A.D. Piper, DSC and 2 bars, RD, RNR) and HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN), this last one after having undocked at Port Bannatyne, conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR) served as target. Upon completion of these exercises both submarines conducted a trial run on the Arran measured mile.

During the night of 18/19 April 1943, HMS Unsparing and HMS Upstart both conducted attack exercises in the Clye area during which they made attacks on each other. (2)

29 Apr 1943HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Holy Loch for Londonderry where she was to participate in A/S exercises. She made the passage together with HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN). They were was escorted by HMS Philante (Capt. A.J. Baker-Cresswell, DSO, RN). (1)

20 May 1943HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR) and HMS Altair (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) W.R.T. Clements, RNR). Practice attacks were then made on the same ships. Upon completion of all these exercises HMS Upstart proceeded to Larne. (3)

8 Jun 1943HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) during which HMS Otus (Lt.Cdr. W.N. Eade, RNR) served as the target. These were followed by gunnery exercises on a target that was towed by HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR). Upon completion of all these exercises HMS Upstart proceeded to Holy Loch. (3)

21 Jun 1943HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Lerwick for Holy Loch. Due to problems with her generators it was decided she was not fit to go on patrol and that repairs were to be carried out first.

During the passage she was again escorted by HMS Ripley (Lt. L.G. Toone, RN). (4)

1 Aug 1943HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Arrochar for torpedo discharge trials. Upon completion of these trials later the same day she returned to Holy Loch. (6)

11 Sep 1943HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Holy Loch for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay and to proceed to Gibraltar upon the completion of the patrol.

During the passage south through the Irish Sea she was escorted by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR).

[No complete map for this patrol can be displayed.]
(7)

14 Sep 1943In the afternoon, HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN), sank the French fishing vessels Grotte de Bethlehem (49 GRT) and Torpille (46 GRT) with gunfire in the Bay of Biscay in position 47°35'N, 05°42'W.

17 Jan 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed La Maddalena for her 4th war patrol (2nd in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off Southern France.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Upstart during this patrol see the map below.

(7)

21 Jan 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) attacked the German tanker Dauphiné (9716 GRT, built 1930, former French) off Cape Camarat, France. Four torpedoes were fired from long range but all missed. Dauphiné was en-route from Genoa to Marseilles and was escorted by the German patrol vessels UJ 2220, UJ 2221 and UJ 2229 (former SG 15).

(All times are zone -1)
1030 hours - Heard HE and Asdic transmissions bearing 360°. Went to periscope depth. While in position 168°, Cape Camarat, 6 nautical miles. Sighted a large camouflaged tanker. She was escorted by a destroyer, an UJ boat and a corvette. Enemy course was 245°. Speed 10 knots. Range was 12000 yards. Started attack.

1117 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 7000 to 8000 yards. All missed. Withdrew at periscope depth as the escorts were not near. A few depth charges were dropped but they were not at all close.

1126/1127 hours - Heard three torpedoes explode when they hit the shore. (7)

23 Jan 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) bombarded a large building, possibly a seaplane station to the west of Cannes, France.

(All times are zone -1)
1749 hours - Surfaced and engaged shore target from 2600 yards. Five rounds were fired at a large nissen hut to the east of the main target. Fire was then shifted to the main target and 25 rounds were fired of which 22 fell in the target area before the gun malfunctioned.

1756 hours - Withdrew from the area.

1800 hours - Shore batteries opened fire but the splashes did not come closed then 100 yards.

1820 hours - Shelling ceased. Continued to withdraw to seaward at high speed. (7)

27 Jan 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) again bombarded a building what was thought to be a seaplane station. This time in the Gulf of Frejus.

(All times are zone -1)
1805 hours - Surfaced and tried to open fire with the gun but it malfunctioned.

1808 hours - The gun was cleared and fire was opened on a target on the shore that is thought to be a seaplane station. 52 Rounds were fired until all 3" ammunition had been fired. Smoke was seen to rise from the target.

9 Feb 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed La Maddalena for her 5th war patrol (3rd in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off Toulon, southern France.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Upstart during this patrol see the map below.

(7)

15 Feb 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) torpedoed and sank the German auxiliary minelayer Niedersachsen (1794 GRT, built 1934, former French Guyane) off Toulon, southern France in position 43°03'N, 06°02'E. Niedersachsen was escorted by the German R-boats R 198 and R 212.

(All times are zone -1)
1700 hours - Sighted a modern 3000-3500 tons merchant vessel leaving Toulon. She was laden, wore German colours and was decorated with swastikas. Started attack.

1710 hours - Fired three torpedoes from 1100 yards. One torpedo hit was obtained near the mainmast.

1712 hours - The target was observed with her poop awash and a 30 degree list to starboard. Went deep.

1728 hours - Returned to periscope depth. The target had sunk. The survivors were seen crowding the decks of two R-boats which were standing by. (7)

18 Feb 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) attacked a German u-boat off Toulon with four torpedoes which all missed. This was U-455 going out for a deep dive trial.

(All times are zone -1)
1200 hours - In position 43°04'N, 06°00'E sighted a u-boat passing Cap Cepet at a range of 3500 yards. Started attack.

1203 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 3000 yards. All missed ahead.

1215 hours - Heard three depth charges exploding but these were not close.

1457 hours - Sighted the same u-boat returning round Cape Cepet. Fired our last torpedo from a range of 1200 yards. It is thought the torpedo missed astern.

Upstart was hunted for the whole afternoon but managed to evade the enemy A/S vessels. (7)

4 Mar 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed La Maddalena for her 6th war patrol (4th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off the coast of southern France between 06'E and 08'E.

For the daily positions of HMS Upstart during this patrol see the map below.

(7)

16 Mar 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) ended her 6th war patrol (4th in the Mediterranean) at La Maddalena. No targets at all had been sighted. (7)

28 Mar 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed La Maddalena for her 7th war patrol (5th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off southern France.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Upstart during this patrol see the map below.

(7)

2 Apr 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) attacked a convoy of barges near Cape Ferrat. Four torpedoes were fired but no hits were obtained.

0312 hours - Fired four torpedoes at a group of barges and escorts. No hits were obtained.

0318 hours - Dived in position 190°, Cap Ferrat, 4.5 nautical miles.

0345 hours - Three escorts carried out an ineffective hunt. They dropped 7 depth charges but these were not close.

The convoy attacked was made up of the barges Klamon, Adoma, Cober, Esperance, the landing barge F 423 and the auxiliary T 1. They were escorted by the auxiliary minesweepers M 6009, M 6021, M 6022, M 6023 and M 6027. (7)

2046 hours - Opened fire on what is thought to be an olive oil refinery. After 23 rounds the gun jammed and the action had to be broken off. 20 Rounds had landed in the target area. (7)

2 May 1944At 1858 hours (zone -2) HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) fired two torpedoes at the German auxiliary patrol veseel FNi 07 that was moored alongside the breakwater in Nice Harbour. Both missed but one torpedo exploded inside the harbour. (7)

3 May 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) attacked what is thought to be a German R-boat off Île Saint-Honorat, France. One torpedo was fired from close range but ran under. The attack appears to have been unobserved.

The target was the German auxiliary patrol vessel FCA 02. The attack was observed and the torpedo indeed ran underneath.

(All times are zone -2)
2015 hours - Sighted an R-boat and a Chasseur leaving Cannes.

1800 hours - Four R-boats were seen sweeping between Cape Bearat and Port Vendres.

1813 hours - Started attack on German merchant Saumur which was proceeding towards Port Vendres.

1826 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 1000 yards.

1827 hours - Observed two hits. HE of the target ceased immediately. Upstart went deep on firing. A short counter attack by the R-boats followed in which a few small depth charges were dropped quite close but these caused no damage.

1845 hours - Returned to periscope depth. The R-boats were seen hunting astern. The merchant vessel was not sighted and is thought to have sunk. (7)

28 May 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) attacked a German R-boat off Port Vendres with one torpedo. It missed.

[So far, January 2019, we have not been able to identify the identify this vessel.]

(All times are zone -2)
0700 hours - Sighted a large R-boat proceeding towards Port Vendres from the north. Started attack.

0745 hours - Fired one torpedo from 1500 yards. The torpedo circled to port and exploded 50 seconds later without doing any damage.

0832 hours - Shore batteries sighted the periscope and opened accurate and heavy fire. Went deep for 15 minutes.

9 Jun 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed La Maddalena for her 10th war patrol (8th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off the French coast between Cape Roux and Oneglia.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Upstart during this patrol see the map below.

19 Jul 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed La Maddalena for her 11th war patrol (9th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off the coast of southern France, from Toulon to the westward.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Upstart during this patrol see the map below.

(7)

26 Jul 1944While trying to attack an enemy tanker near Cape Cepet, HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN), was detected and depth charged by it's escort. The attack had to be broken off.

The German transport Georgia (797 GRT, built 1920, former Italian) sailed from Toulon at 2000 hours on this day. It seems therefore very likely that this was the escorted ship seen by Upstart. So far, Janaury 2019, we have been unable to identify the escorts.

2010 hours - Sighted a motor vessel of 2500 tons. She was heavily armed. he was soon seen to be an escort vessel.

2012 hours - Sighted a tanker with another escort vessel astern of her. They were following the destroyer and other escort vessel. Stsrted attack on the tanker. Range was now 6000 yards.

2016 hours - The destroyer was seen to come towards.

2019 hours - The destroyer was still coming towards. Went to 50 feet.

2022 hours - The destroyer passed close ahead. Another vessel was approaching from the starboard side.

2023 hours - Returned to periscope depth. One of the escort vessel was rapidly approaching. The tanker could at this moment no longer be attacked. Decided to attack this escort vessel.

2026 hours - About half a minute before firing she went hard to port and now came straight towards. Our periscope must have been sighted. Went deep. On reaching 65 feet the escort vessel went overhead and dropped a pattern of 14 depth charges close astern causing some minor damage. A short hunt followed by two escorts and later one escort.

2041 hours - Returned to periscope depth. The escort we wanted to attack was still searching astern but she soon made off to re-join the convoy. (7)

[So far, January 2019, we have not been able to identify the identify the escorts.]

(All times are zone -2)
0300 hours - Sighted a destroyer against Île de Porquerolles.

0310 hours - Started attack on a 4000 tons merchant vessel that was escorted by this destroyer and two other escort vessels.

0316 hours - Fired four torpedoes. One hit was obtained 20 seconds after firing the last torpedo. The vessel vanished in a tremendous upheaval and is considered sunk. [In fact one or two torpedoes prematured and the target was not hit].

0318 hours - Dived and retired to seaward. A counter attack was started in which four patterns of depth charges were dropped but none were close. (7)

18 Sep 1944HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Malta for her 12th war patrol (10th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol in the Aegean.

For the daily positions of HMS Upstart during this patrol see the map below.

(7)

24 Sep 1944At 2132 hours (zone -1) HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) sighted a 50 tons caique. Fire was opened on this caique at 2149 hours. Two rounds were fired before the caique gave the correct recognition signal. Fire was then checked as it was obviously one of our own. (7)

26 Sep 1944In the moring HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) tried to attack an enemy UJ-boat in the Skiathos Channel. She was however detected and depth charged. A pattern of 7 depth charges was dropped close but caused no damage to Upstart. (7)